Cycle saddle and method of forming same



Aug. 25, 1964 FIG. I

R. M. TIMMS CYCLE SADDLE AND METHOD OF FORMING SAME Filed Aug. 8, 1962 INVENTOR. RICHARD M. T/MMS United States Patent Tenn, assignor to Troxel Moscow, Tenn, a corpora- This invention relates to a saddle of the type adapted for use on tricycles, bicycles or the like, and to the method of forming the saddle.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an improved saddle of the above mentioned type.

A further object is to provide, in such a saddle, a novel and inexpensive pad construction and means for attaching same to the frame of the saddle.

A further object is to provide such a pad formed of plastic and the like and which is attached to the frame by providing a plurality of plastic projections integrally attached to the pad and depending therefrom through apertures provided in the frame, where heads are formed on the lower ends of the projections to hold the pad in place.

A further object is to provide such a saddle in which the pad is provided with a thickened rim projecting downwardly below the lower face of the pad and which rim engages the frame to space the pad therefrom and allow room for the pad to stretch, thereby providing a cushioning effect.

A further object is to provide a unique, inexpensive and effective method for forming a saddle.

A further object is to provide such a method that comprises the steps of providing a plastic pad having a thickened rim projecting downwardly below the lower face of the pad and having a plurality of depending plastic projections, providing a saddle frame having a plurality of slots or apertures therethrough, placing said pad on the frame with the pad being supported by said rim and with the projections extending through said apertures in the frame, and heating said projections adjacent the lower ends thereof to provide heads thereon below said frame for holding said saddle pad in place.

The means by which the foregoing and other objects of the present invention are accomplished and the manner of their accomplishment will be readily understood from the following specification upon reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the saddle of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a bottom view thereof.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken as on the line II-I I o FIG- 1.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the frame before assembly with the pad.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the with the frame.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken as on the line VI-VI of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken as on the line VIIVII of FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIGS. 6 and 7 showing the first step in the assembly of the pad and frame.

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8 showing the second step in the assembly of the pad and frame.

Referring now to the drawings in which the various parts are indicated by numerals, the saddle 11 of the present invention comprises a frame 13 preferably formed of a single piece of sheet metal by cutting and stamping operations. Frame 13 is substantially pear-shaped when viewed from the top and is preferably provided with a downwardly bent skirt 15 at the peripheral edge thereof.

pad before assembly 3,146,024 Patented Aug. 25, 1964 The usual saddle post 17 is provided which is attached to frame 13 by suitable means, preferably as follows: The upper end of post 17 extends through a hole 19 provided in the central portion 21 of frame 13, which central portion is bent downwardly from the remaining portion of the frame in forming the frame and is substantially concave or cup-like in shape. A pair of washers 23 are provided on post 17 on opposite sides of central portion 21 and the upper end of the post is fixedly attached in place by suitable means, as by swaging.

Frame 13 is recessed downwardly to provide a contin uous seat or step 25 which is spaced inwardly from the peripheral edge of the frame and surrounds the central portion 21. A plurality of elongated slots or apertures 29 are provided through frame 13 for a purpose later to be described. Apertures 29 preferably extend through the portion of frame 13 that establishes step 25 and are spaced therearound.

Saddle 11 additionally includes a pad 31, which is preferably formed of a sheet of plastic, as polyethylene or the like, that is resilient and which is molded or formed in the outline as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 5, although other shapes may be provided without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Pad 31 and step 25 both have the same general outline and are arranged so that pad 31 will fit into the recessed portion of the frame. Pad 31 is provided with a spacer or thickened rim 32 that projects downwardly below the remainder of the pad and is preferably integrally formed therewith around the periphery thereof. With pad 31 in place on frame 13, the pad is supported by means of rim 32 which is seated on step 25, as best seen in FIGS. 3, 8, and 9. A plurality of plastic tongues or projections 33, which are so arranged and placed that they are adapted to extend through apertures 29, are preferably integrally formed on the bottom side of rim 32 and are of such a length that when placed through apertures 29 they will extend therebeyond for a distance, as best seen in FIG. 8.

After the projections 33 have been placed through the apertures 29, as above described, heads 35 are respectively provided on projections 33 by heating the lower ends of the projections with a hot iron 37 or the like to melt the plastic. The iron 37 is urged upwardly to flatten the ends of the projections and establish the heads 35. After the plastic has been allowed to cool, it will be understood that pad 31 is then fixedly held in place by means of heads 35 so that the pad cannot be accidentally removed.

It should be noted that for purposes of illustration the thickness of pad 31 is slightly exaggerated in the figures of the drawing, particularly in FIGS. 6, 8 and 9, and that a thickness of about .050 inch of polyethylene material has been found to be suitable, although other thicknesses may be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Also, it should be noted that pad 31 is preferably formed in a slightly upwardly bowed or rounded condition.

An important feature of the present invention is the fact that pad 31 is spaced from the upper face 39 of frame 13, inwardly of rim 32, as best seen in FIG. 3, so that the pad Will have space in which to stretch downwardly when a person sits on the saddle 11, thereby providing a cushioning effect. It will be understood that this spacing, above mentioned, is provided due to the rim 32 holding the pad 31 upwardly adjacent the peripheral edge thereof and due to the cup-like structure of the central portion 21 of frame 13. Thus, it will be apparent that the pad 31 of the present invention offers many advantages over previous types of pads used on saddles, which were of a much more expensive and complicated construction.

From the foregoing description it will be noted that the method of the present invention substantially comprises the following steps:

(1) Providing a resilient plastic pad 31 having a thickened rim 32 projecting downwardly below the lower face of the pad and having a plurality of depending plastic projections 33 spaced therearound.

(2) Providing a frame 13 with a step therein and with apertures 29 therethrough.

(3) Placing pad 31 in such a manner that the rim 32 of the pad rests on step 25 and with projections 33 extending downwardly through apertures 29.

(4) Heating projections 33 adjacent the lower ends thereof to provide heads 35 thereon for holding pad 31 in place.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that a unique and inexpensive pad construction is provided which is economical and easy to manufacture, yet is very effective.

Although the invention has been described and illustrated with respect to a preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that it is not to be so limited since changes and modifications may be made therein which are within the full intended scope of this invention as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. A cycle saddle comprising a frame of sheet metal material having an upper face and a plurality of apertures therethrough, a pad consisting substantially entirely of a substantially flat sheet of plastic, said pad including a thickened rim projecting downwardly below the remainder of said pad, a plurality of plastic projections attached to said rim and depending therefrom in spaced relationship therearound, said pad being supported on said frame with said pad being inwardly spaced from the peripheral edge of said frame and with said rim resting on said frame to hold the remainder of said pad away from said upper face and with said projections extending through said apertures, said projections being respectively provided with heads adjacent the lower ends thereof to hold said pad in place on said frame.

2. A cycle saddle comprising a frame having an upper face and a cup-like central portion, said frame being recessed around said central portion to provide a continuou step provided with a plurality of apertures therethrough, a pad including a sheet of resilient plastic, said pad including a thickened rim projecting downwardly below the remainder of said pad, a plurality of plastic projections attached to said rim and depending therefrom in spaced relationship therearound, said pad being supported on said frame with said rim resting on said step and with said projections respectively extending through said apertures, said projections being respectively provided with heads adjacent the lower ends thereof to hold said pad in place on said frame, said pad inwardly of said rim being spaced from said upper face whereby space is provided for said pad to stretch and provide a cushioning effect.

3. A cycle saddle comprising a frame having an upper face and a cup-like central portion, said frame being recessed around said central portion to provide a continuous step provided with a plurality of apertures therethrough, a pad including a sheet of resilient plastic, a plurality of plastic projections attached to said pad and depending therefrom in spaced relationship therearound, said pad being supported on said frame with marginal portions thereof resting on said step and with said projections respectively extending through said apertures, said projections being respectively provided with heads adjacent the lower ends thereof to hold said pad in place on said frame, said pad inwardly of the marginal portions thereof being spaced from said upper face whereby space is provided for said pad to stretch and provide a cushioning effect.

4. A cycle saddle comprising a frame of sheet metal material having the peripheral portion thereof rolled downwardly and having an upwardly opening hollow area formed inwardly of said peripheral portion, said hollow area extending over a major portion of said frame and extending across said frame in closely spaced relationship to the opposite sides of said frame, and a pad consisting substantially entirely of a substantially flat piece of substantially resilient material secured to said frame at the peripheral edges of said hollow area and spanning said hollow area in spaced relationship to said frame for most of the area of said pad whereby space is provided for said pad to stretch and provide a cushioning effect.

5. A cycle saddle comprising a frame of sheet metal material having the peripheral portion thereof rolled downwardly and having an upwardly opening hollow area formed inwardly of said peripheral portion and with the marginal portions of said frame defining said hollow area being indented in the form of a continuous step, and a substantially thin pad of resilient material secured to said frame with said pad being received in said continuous step spanning and enclosing said hollow area.

6. A cycle saddle comprising a frame formed of sheet metal having the peripheral portion thereof rolled downwardly and having an upwardly opening hollow area disposed inwardly of said peripheral portion and with the portion of said frame defining the margin of said hollow area being indented in the form of a continuous step, a substantially thin pad of resilient material having peripheral edges of proportions commensurate with said margin of said hollow area, and means securing said pad to said frame with said peripheral edges of said pad being received in said continuous step and with said pad spanning and enclosing said hollow area.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 562,965 Lester June 30, 1896 1,975,405 Pryale Oct. 2, 1934 2,252,896 Mounts Aug. 19, 1941 2,341,720 Kalter Feb. 15, 1944 2,366,274 Luth et al. Jan. 2, 1945 2,979,739 Krakauer Apr. 18, 1961 2,980,162 Bou'rgois Apr. 18, 1961 3,039,791 Horowitz et al. June 19, 1962 3,066,978 Kalter Dec. 4, 1962 

4. A CYCLE SADDLE COMPRISING A FRAME OF SHEET METAL MATERIAL HAVING THE PERIPHERAL PORTION THEREOF ROLLED DOWNWARDLY AND HAVING AN UPWARDLY OPENING HOLLOW AREA FORMED INWARDLY OF SAID PERIPHERAL PORTION, SAID HOLLOW AREA EXTENDING OVER A MAJOR PORTION OF SAID FRAME AND EXTENDING ACROSS SAID FRAME IN CLOSELY SPACED RELATIONSHIP TO THE OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID FRAME, AND A PAD CONSISTING SUBSTANTIALLY ENTIRELY OF A SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT PIECE OF SUBSTANTIALLY RESILIENT MATERIAL SECURED TO SAID FRAME AT THE PERIPHERAL EDGES OF SAID HOLLOW AREA AND SPANNING SAID HOLLOW AREA IN SPACED RELATIONSHIP TO SAID FRAME FOR MOST OF THE AREA OF SAID PAD WHEREBY SPACE IS PROVIDED FOR SAID PAD TO STRETCH AND PROVIDE A CUSHIONING EFFECT. 